Denis Coulson, a former rugby player representing Ireland at the under-20 level, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after being found guilty of raping a woman in Bordeaux, France, in 2017. This verdict was delivered by Bordeaux's Cour d'Assises on Friday. Born in Dublin, Coulson has had a notable career, playing for Connacht in Ireland and Stade Français in France. He was one of two former Irish internationals sentenced on the same day, with Chris Farrell, part of Ireland's Grand Slam-winning squad in the 2018 Six Nations, receiving a four-year sentence, of which two years are suspended, for failing to prevent a crime. Instead of prison time, Farrell will be required to wear an electronic tag for two years and will remain within France.
The court proceedings also implicated three other rugby players, with two being found guilty of rape alongside Coulson. Loick Jammes, a 30-year-old French national, received a 14-year sentence, while Rory Grice, a 34-year-old from New Zealand, was sentenced to 12 years. In contrast, Dylan Hayes, another New Zealander aged 30, received a two-year suspended sentence for failure to prevent a crime. Each of the defendants, including Coulson, had denied all charges against them. The case, involving former teammates from FC Grenoble, has sparked widespread discussions about issues of accountability and behavior within sports circles, emphasizing a need for greater responsibility among athletes.
